Assig



(No Model.)

F. G. BIPPUS.

FIFTH WHEEL.

No. 339,865. I Patented Apr. 6, 1886.

Fawn @m A QZWLMQWM 139 Unwrap States PATENT FERDINAND G. DTPPUS, OF ST. LOUIS, iIISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO JAMES MCGLURE AND LOUIS VON FBOBEN, BOTH OF SAHE PLACE.

FlFTH-WHEEL.

SEECIFICA'I'ION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 339,365, dated April 6, 1886.

Application filed December .21, 1885. Serial No. 186,397. (No model.)

To all 2072 0721 2329 may concern.-

Be it known that I, FERDINAND G. BIPIPUS, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in FifthlVheels, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a device for over coming the objectional weal; pointsin the con nection of the running-gears of vehicles; and it consists in novel features in the coupling of the upper and lower sections of the fifth-wheel which, while allowing free action to the same, still h'rmly holds it at times of adverse strain. and especially in the pivoted connection at the king-bolt, which, instead of passing through the axle and bed-piece, is placed at the junction of the brace-rods or frame that runs back from the clips to its point ofjunction with the perch-plates, to which it is bolted. It will be seen that by this device both axle and bedpiece are left intact without being weakened by the usual hole for the l ing-bolt,which is the point of greatest strain in the running-gears, and is strongly braced by the frame, which angles forward to the clips that secure the axle to its bed-piece. It will also be seen that by the extension of the perclrirons,which connect above to the upper fifth-wheel and be neath to the coupling that connects the sections of said wheel, even should the kingbolt be lost or break, the running'gears would still be held from uncoupling.

To more fully describe the construction and operation of my improvements, and to enable others to fully understand the same, reference is bad to the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure 1 is a perspective view of my im' proved fiftlrwheel, taken from the rear. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the same, with a vertical section taken on line 2 2 of Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a section across the axle and fifth-wheel on line 33 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a detail section.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

A represents the upper member of the fifth wheel; B, the lower member.

I preferably make the fifth-wheel to form a segment of a circle, which extends beyond the front of the axle. The lower member, 13, of l the fifth-wheel rests on the bed-piece G, and is held there by means of clips 0 and c, which are bent over the saddle-lug I), cast on its outer periphery near its ends. (See Figs. 1 and 2.) These clips also unite the bed-piece G to the axle D. The upper member of the fifth-wheel rests flat on the lower, and is connected at the back by means of a perch iron or plate, E, which forms part of it, to the perch pole by means of bolts 6. The front part of the upper member is provided wit-h a lug, F, preferably cast on its inner periphery, to utilize space. It may also be cast on its outer periphery, to gain more strength, if desired. To this lug is bolted a lower perch plate or iron, G, which extends down from same and passes under the axle to the lower side of the perchpole, to which it is bolted by means of the bolts 6, which hold the upper perch plate or iron. The lug F extends down below the upper member of the fifth-wheel far enough to clear the lower member, and, with the elbow g of the lower pcrclrplaie, forms an open slot, IL, to allow the lower member to turn and slide freely through it. The elbow 9 serves as a support for the lower member, B, to prevent it from tipping. By thus connecting the up per member of the fifth-wheel at the rear and front to the perch-pole the same is held firm and rigid at times of adverse strain.

11 is the king-bolt, which, instead of passing through the axle and bedpiece, passes through and G, rear of the axle, at the center point of the segmental fifth-wheel, and is placed at the junction of a pair of brace-rods, I I, which extend back from the clipsc and c (which secure the axle and lower member of the fifthwheel to the bed-piece) to their point ofjunction with the perch-plates, between which they are bolted by the king-bolt. The brace-rods I I are castin one piece to form a frame, which acts as a medium to turn the axle on the kingbolt as its center. The king-bolt, which receives the greatest strains in the runninggears, is thus strongly held in its bearings by the upper and lower perch irons. At the point of junction of the brace-frame I I is formed hub f, provided with an annular rim or collar,

the upper and lower perch plates or irons, E

f, top andbottom, which enter the respective upper and lower perch-irons, thereby keeping the axle, bed-piece, lower member, B, of the fifth-wheel, and the brace-rods I in place and 5 prevent them from separating from the upper member, A, of the fifth-wheel in case the kingbolt H should break or be lost. rods I I are secured to the axle by means of the same clips 0 and c which unite the lower member, B, of the fifth-wheel to the bed-piece O and axle D, as before described, by passing their ends through holes in the ends of the brace-rods I I, and drawing all the parts together by nuts b at the ends of the clips below, thus adapting the fifth-wheel to fit any thickness of axle and bed-piece by merely using longer or shorter clips, thereby saving time, labor, and expense in the fifth-wheel itself, as well as in attaching it to various kinds of vehicles.

In Fig. 4, the lug F is shown on the outer periphery of the fifth-wheel, and is intended to give more strength to the same than when placed on theinner periphery. The sloth for 2 5 the reception of thelower member, B, is formed by the elbow 9 similar to when the lug is on the inner periphery, as shown in Fig. 3.

The brace- Having now fully described the construction and operation of my i mproved-fifth-wheel,what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

In a fifth-wheel, the combination of the upper member, A, the upper and lower perch plates or irons, E and G, and lug F, the upper perch iron or plate forming part of said upper member, and extending from the rear of same to the perch-pole, the lower perch-iron being bolted to the front of said member at its lug F, and extending down and curving back under the axle to the perch-pole, the king-bolt H, with the lower member, B, of the fifthwheel secured to the bed-piece by clips 0 and c, and the brace-rodsI I, substantially as herein shown and described, and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FERDINAND G. BIPPUS.

\Vitnesses:

CHAS. F. MEIsNER, J AMES MOOLURE. 

